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Engler-Chiurazzi EB, Chastain WH, Citron KK, Lambert LE, Kikkeri DN, Shrestha SS. Estrogen, the Peripheral Immune System and Major Depression – A Reproductive Lifespan Perspective. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:850623. [PMID: 35493954 PMCID: PMC9051447 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.850623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depression is a significant medical issue impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Identifying factors contributing to its manifestation has been a subject of intense investigation for decades and several targets have emerged including sex hormones and the immune system. Indeed, an extensive body of literature has demonstrated that sex hormones play a critical role in modulating brain function and impacting mental health, especially among female organisms. Emerging findings also indicate an inflammatory etiology of major depression, revealing new opportunities to supplement, or even supersede, currently available pharmacological interventions in some patient populations. Given the established sex differences in immunity and the profound impact of fluctuations of sex hormone levels on the immune system within the female, interrogating how the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems converge to impact women’s mental health is warranted. Here, we review the impacts of endogenous estrogens as well as exogenously administered estrogen-containing therapies on affect and immunity and discuss these observations in the context of distinct reproductive milestones across the female lifespan. A theoretical framework and important considerations for additional study in regards to mental health and major depression are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi,
| | - Wesley H. Chastain
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Kailen K. Citron
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Lillian E. Lambert
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Divya N. Kikkeri
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Sharhana S. Shrestha
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Dong Z, Zhang B, Rong J, Yang X, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Su Z. The aberrant expression of CD45 isoforms and levels of sex hormones in systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Rheumatol 2022; 41:1087-1093. [PMID: 35064423 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-021-05934-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease with significant gender bias in women, and sex hormones are considered to play an important role in the regulation of immune activity. The CD45 isoforms generated through alternative splicing of mRNA identify different functional status of lymphocytes and also are suggested as a biomarker for assessing the progression of SLE, while the modulation of CD45 expression in SLE patients is not clear. METHODS In this study, the peripheral blood sera of 46 SLE patients and 15 health individuals were collected for detecting the levels of sex hormones and immune associated factors. The expression of CD45 isoforms and the status of CD45 DNA methylation of the peripheral mononuclear blood cells were detected by flow cytometry and bisulfite sequencing PCR, respectively. RESULTS The levels of complement C3 and IgA decreased, especially decline of the serum IgA to the level of selective immunoglobulin A deficiency, and the C-reactive protein increased in SLE patients when compared with healthy controls, which manifested the abnormal immune activity of the SLE patients. Sex hormones detection showed a decreased testosterone and increased prolactin in SLE. An accelerated expression of CD45RO, reduced CD45RA and CD45RB, and a relative hypermethylation of CD45 DNA in SLE were also identified that provided a clue to explain the possible regulatory mechanism for the immune function in SLE. CONCLUSION The results indicated that the aberrant CD45 isoforms, DNA methylation and hormone levels might be correlated with the imbalanced immune activity of SLE patients. Key Points • Selective immunoglobulin A deficiency was significantly higher in SLE than in healthy individuals. • SLE patients had decreased testosterone and increased prolactin in the sera. • An aberrant expression of CD45 isoforms and CD45 DNA methylation were identified in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxia Dong
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ju Rong
- Department of Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 57 Changping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xinran Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongni Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qiaoxin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhongjing Su
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, China
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Quirke LD, Maclean PH, Haack NA, Edwards SJ, Heiser A, Juengel JL. Characterization of local and peripheral immune system in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes. J Anim Sci 2021; 99:6317661. [PMID: 34240172 PMCID: PMC8363041 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulation of the immune system is known to be important for successful pregnancy but how immune function might differ between the lymph nodes draining the reproductive tract and peripheral lymph nodes is not well understood. Additionally, if immune system changes in response to the presence of an embryo during early pregnancy, and if this response differs in local versus peripheral immune tissue, has not been well characterized. To address these questions, we examined expression of genes important for immune function using NanoString technology in the ampulla and isthmus of the oviduct, endometrium, lymph nodes draining the reproductive tract (lumbo-aortic and medial iliac) as well as a peripheral lymph node (axillary), the spleen, and circulating immune cells from ewes on day 5 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. Concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in plasma were also determined. Principal component analysis revealed separation of the local from the peripheral lymph nodes (MANOVA P = 3.245e-08, R2 = 0.3) as well as separation of tissues from pregnant and nonpregnant animals [lymph nodes (MANOVA P = 2.337e-09, R2 = 0.5), reproductive tissues (MANOVA P = 2.417e-14, R2 = 0.47)]. Nine genes were differentially (FDR < 0.10) expressed between lymph node types, with clear difference in expression of these genes between the lumbo-aortic and axillary lymph nodes. Expression of these genes in the medial iliac lymph node was not consistently different to either the axillary or the lumbo-aortic lymph node. Expression of IL10RB was increased (FDR < 0.05) by 24% in the reproductive tissue of the pregnant animals compared to nonpregnant animals. Analysis of gene categories revealed that expression of genes of the T-cell receptor pathway in reproductive tract tissues was associated (P < 0.05) with pregnancy status. In conclusion, assessment of gene expression of reproductive and immune tissue provides evidence for a specialization of the local immune system around the reproductive tract potentially important for successful establishment of pregnancy. Additionally, differences in gene expression patterns in reproductive tissue from pregnant and nonpregnant animals could be discerned as early as day 5 of pregnancy. This was found to be associated with expression of genes important for T-cell function and thus highlights the important role of these cells in early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel D Quirke
- Reproduction, Animal Science, Invermay Agricultural Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Mosgiel, 9092, New Zealand
| | - Paul H Maclean
- Bioinformatics and Statistics, AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Neville A Haack
- Infectious Diseases, Hopkirk Research Institute, AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Sara J Edwards
- Reproduction, Animal Science, Invermay Agricultural Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Mosgiel, 9092, New Zealand
| | - Axel Heiser
- Infectious Diseases, Hopkirk Research Institute, AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer L Juengel
- Reproduction, Animal Science, Invermay Agricultural Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Mosgiel, 9092, New Zealand.,Infectious Diseases, Hopkirk Research Institute, AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
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Su Z, Huang D. Alternative Splicing of Pre-mRNA in the Control of Immune Activity. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040574. [PMID: 33921058 PMCID: PMC8071365 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The human immune response is a complex process that responds to numerous exogenous antigens in preventing infection by microorganisms, as well as to endogenous components in the surveillance of tumors and autoimmune diseases, and a great number of molecules are necessary to carry the functional complexity of immune activity. Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA plays an important role in immune cell development and regulation of immune activity through yielding diverse transcriptional isoforms to supplement the function of limited genes associated with the immune reaction. In addition, multiple factors have been identified as being involved in the control of alternative splicing at the cis, trans, or co-transcriptional level, and the aberrant splicing of RNA leads to the abnormal modulation of immune activity in infections, immune diseases, and tumors. In this review, we summarize the recent discoveries on the generation of immune-associated alternative splice variants, clinical disorders, and possible regulatory mechanisms. We also discuss the immune responses to the neoantigens produced by alternative splicing, and finally, we issue some alternative splicing and immunity correlated questions based on our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjing Su
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22, Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (D.H.)
| | - Dongyang Huang
- Department of Cell Biology, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22, Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
- Correspondence: (Z.S.); (D.H.)
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Illiano A, Pinto G, Melchiorre C, Carpentieri A, Faraco V, Amoresano A. Protein Glycosylation Investigated by Mass Spectrometry: An Overview. Cells 2020; 9:E1986. [PMID: 32872358 PMCID: PMC7564411 DOI: 10.3390/cells9091986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein glycosylation is a post-translational modification of crucial importance for its involvement in molecular recognition, protein trafficking, regulation, and inflammation. Indeed, abnormalities in protein glycosylation are correlated with several disease states such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and congenial disorders. The understanding of cellular mechanisms through the elucidation of glycan composition encourages researchers to find analytical solutions for their detection. Actually, the multiplicity and diversity of glycan structures bond to the proteins, the variations in polarity of the individual saccharide residues, and the poor ionization efficiencies make their detection much trickier than other kinds of biopolymers. An overview of the most prominent techniques based on mass spectrometry (MS) for protein glycosylation (glycoproteomics) studies is here presented. The tricks and pre-treatments of samples are discussed as a crucial step prodromal to the MS analysis to improve the glycan ionization efficiency. Therefore, the different instrumental MS mode is also explored for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of glycopeptides and the glycans structural composition, thus contributing to the elucidation of biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Illiano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Napoles, Italy; (A.I.); (G.P.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (A.A.)
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Napoles, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pinto
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Napoles, Italy; (A.I.); (G.P.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Chiara Melchiorre
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Napoles, Italy; (A.I.); (G.P.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Andrea Carpentieri
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Napoles, Italy; (A.I.); (G.P.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Vincenza Faraco
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Napoles, Italy; (A.I.); (G.P.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Angela Amoresano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Napoles, Italy; (A.I.); (G.P.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (A.A.)
- Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi—Consorzio Interuniversitario, Viale delle Medaglie d’Oro, 305, 00136 Rome, Italy
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